In recent years, the world has undergone a digital revolution, with technology pervading so many aspects of our lives in ways we often barely notice. These digital advances bring with them many benefits, but the side effects of security problems are something that businesses and manufacturers sometimes fail to bring under control. There have, therefore, been many cases of criminals exposing digitisation flaws, exploiting these vulnerabilities to commit theft and fraud.
Despite the difficulties of adjusting to a new, digital world, there is now no excuse for businesses with holes in the defences of their digital systems and servers. In accordance with the GDPR, the principal piece of data protection legislation in the UK, all individuals and organisations that control, store and process personal data must ensure that there are appropriate protections in place for the sensitive personal information in their possession.
Where third parties fail to meet this obligation, they can also be held accountable via data breach claims. If you believe you have been the victim of a data protection breach, you may be able to claim compensation for the harm caused on a No Win, No Fee basis now.
Criminals exposing digitisation vulnerabilities – recent developments
The advances made in recent years can now allow modern businesses to develop products with incredibly sophisticated digital functionality. Unfortunately, there can also be hindrances to security within this progression, with criminals exposing digitisation vulnerabilities that they have been able to take advantage of.
For example, many carmakers are now using motion sensors in their car keys, such that cars can unlock when the driver approaches the vehicle with the key, without them having to press a button. Mercedes is one manufacturer that seemed to have quickly developed this technology but there were, unfortunately, reports suggesting that criminals were able to intercept car key signals, hack the sensors, and then unlock the vehicle without the need for a key.
Voice-operated smart devices like Amazon’s Alexa can now be found in an increasing number of households, but cybersecurity researchers have raised their concerns about these products. It was said that hackers could attack Alexa devices to grant them the ability to install or remove apps, and that this could be dangerous if malicious applications are installed.
Exploiting weaknesses in data breaches
We have also seen criminals exposing digitisation flaws in data breach cases. High-profile events like the TalkTalk, Equifax and British Airways data breaches all essentially involved cybercriminals taking advantage of existing cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
Such vulnerabilities have led to people suffering distress and real financial losses.
What can victims of data exposure do?
If you have been involved in an incident where criminals have been exposing digitisation flaws, and you were affected by data exposure as a result, you may be able to claim compensation in a data breach claim. Companies have no right to expose you to security risks through their technical failings, so you could be entitled to seek justice for any breaches of the law.
To find out if you could be eligible to make a claim, contact us for free, no-obligation advice about your situation. Our leading, specialist lawyers have been representing victims of privacy matters since 2014, so we have the experience and expertise needed to bring your claim to fruition.